Dustin Schroeder
Houston,TX
Summary
Seasoned battalion chief and firefighter with a proven history in emergency response, technical rescue, and personnel management, fostering team performance and safety. Skilled in incident command, risk assessment, and team leadership. Excel at communication, decision-making, and problem-solving to deliver effective outcomes under pressure.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Battalion Chief
Community Volunteer Fire Department
Houston, TX
05.2009 - Current
- Community Volunteer Fire Department offers a wide range of emergency and fire services including technical rescue and hazardous materials response, with a commitment to community safety. As a combination department, staff consists of both paid and volunteer members who fully staff our stations 24 hours a day.
- Serve as incident commander on small to large scale incidents, ensuring effective communication and coordinated efforts among multiple responders.
- Member of Special Operations Division, trained and equipped to handle unusual or technically challenging calls that fall outside normal fire or emergency medical responses, including but not limited to high angle rescues, trench collapse and structural collapse.
- Member of Tactical EMS (TEMS) Team, a specialized branch of Emergency Medical Services, responsible for providing immediate medical care in hostile environments to injured law enforcement officers.
- Oversaw 50 members, creating staffing schedules across fire stations to optimize coverage and response times.
- Drone operator: responsible for deploying advanced aerial technology to enhance situational awareness and support emergency operations during critical incidents.
- Adjunct instructor for training division and fire fighter training academy cadets.
- Developed and implemented hiring system for Day Crew employees, establishing interview guidelines, a Physical Assessment Test (PAT), and a New Employee Orientation Program (NEOP) to enhance recruitment.
- Consulted on the design of the Swiftwater Training for Operations and Rescue Missions (STORM Ranch), the Nation's largest flood rescue training facility with estimated completion 2027.
Senior Captain
Houston Fire Department
Houston, TX
09.2003 - Current
- Assigned to Ladder 68 B-shift in Southwest Houston, a diverse demographic area, responding to emergency calls varying in medical emergencies, motor vehicle accidents/emergencies, structure fires, hazmat incidents and natural disasters.
- Managed daily staffing of the B-Shift Southwest Quadrant, maintaining optimal coverage and resource allocation for effective emergency response.
- Supervised daily crew operations and firefighter performance, ensuring adherence to safety standards and effective emergency response.
- District 68B Training Officer, facilitating training sessions on emergency response protocols, equipment usage, and safety procedures for the team.
- Conduct comprehensive evaluations of incident reports on near-misses, injuries, and line of duty deaths (LODD) as a member of the HFD Peer Review Committee, developing strategic recommendations to reduce future risks and enhance operational effectiveness.
- Member of the HFD Gear & Testing Committee, reviewing and testing potential new firefighting gear for the department to ensure quality and effectiveness.
Ultrasound Technician
CONAM Inspection & Engineering Services
Houston, TX
01.2001 - 01.2009
- CONAM Inspection & Engineering Services specializes in providing highly skilled personnel for non-destructive testing (NDT) inspections and asset evaluation. (now operates as MISTRAS Services Division)
- Executed NDT inspections at petrochemical plants and manufacturing facilities worldwide, ensuring high accuracy and strict adherence to safety regulations and standards.
- Performed detailed weld inspections and thickness mapping using ultrasonic, magnetic particles, and dye penetrant NDT methods to detect defects.
- Developed comprehensive inspection reports and coordinated with clients and engineering teams to clarify findings and facilitate timely corrective actions.
- Maintained certifications in Ultrasonic Testing (UT) Level 2, Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) Level 2, Liquid Penetrant Testing (PT) Level 2, and API QUTE, upholding industry standards and increasing inspection reliability.
Education
Structural Firefighter Certification & Emergency Medical Technician -
Houston Community College
Houston, TX11-2003
Associate of Applied Science - Non-Destructive Testing
Southeast Community College
Milford, NE06-2001
Skills
- Emergency management
- Incident command
- Crisis response
- Disaster Recovery Management
- Technical Rescue Operations
- Special Operations response
- Hazardous materials
- Personnel management
- Team leadership
- Training development
- Drone operation
- Problem solving
- Public Safety
Certification
- Texas Commission on Fire Protection Certifications (TCFP): Driver Operator Pumper; Driver Operator Aerial; Hazardous Materials Technician; Incident Safety Officer; Hazardous Materials Incident Commander; Basic Aircraft Rescue; Intermediate Aircraft Rescue; Instructor 1 & 2; Basic Structure Firefighter; Intermediate Structure Firefighter; Master Structure Firefighter; Fire Officer 1 & 2; Incident Commander; Courage to be Safe Course; Traffic Incident Management Program; Cancer Awareness Training; Ropes Rescue Awareness & Operations; Ropes Rescue Technician; Basic Wildland Firefighter.
- Pro Board Certifications: Confined Space Rescue 1 & 2; Hazardous Materials Incident Commander; Hazardous Materials Technician; Rope Rescue Awareness; Rope Rescue Operations; Rope Rescue Technician; Trench Rescue Awareness; Trench Rescue Operations; Trench Rescue Technician.
- FEMA Certifications: Wide Area Search; IS-2200 Basic EOC Functions; NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 & 800.
- Texas A&M Engineering Extensions Service (TEEX) Certifications: Beyond the Basics: Advance Stabilization; Katy Vehicle Extrication and Rescue; Confined Space Level 1 & 2; Advanced Aerial Apparatus Rescue; Structural Collapse Specialist; Advanced Exterior Structural Collapse; Advanced Interior Structural Collapse; Advanced Breaching & Breaking Structural Collapse; US&R Rescue Specialist; Big Rig Technician; Enhanced All-Hazards IM/Unified Command 314; ARFF Academy.
- International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) Seals: Hazardous Materials Awareness; Hazardous Materials Operations; Driver/Operator Pumper; Driver/Operator Aerial; Firefighter 1 & 2; Incident Commander; Airport Firefighter.
- Additional Certifications: State of Texas Licensed Emergency Medical Technician-Basic; Active Attack Integrated Response (ALERRT); Elevator Emergency Management Technician; K9 Emergency Care; Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced; FAA Part 107 Certificate; L-180 Human Factors in The Wildland Fire Service; S130 & S190 NWCG FF Training and Intro to Wildland Fire Behavior; STORM (Specialized Tactics for Operational Rescue and Medicine) Emergency Casualty Care.
Awards
- Houston Rockets 9/11 Hero Award, 04/01/22
- Houston Fire Department, Unit Meritorious Award, 01/01/05
- Houston Fire Department, Unit Meritorious Award, 01/01/22
- Houston Fire Department, Unit Valor Award, 01/01/22
Timeline
Battalion Chief
Community Volunteer Fire Department
05.2009 - Current
Senior Captain
Houston Fire Department
09.2003 - Current
Ultrasound Technician
CONAM Inspection & Engineering Services
01.2001 - 01.2009
Structural Firefighter Certification & Emergency Medical Technician -
Houston Community College
Associate of Applied Science - Non-Destructive Testing
Southeast Community College